Saturday, July 23, 2011

Amy Winehouse is dead

Some are born dead, some achieve death, and some have death thrust upon them. At whatever point it occurs, it is unavoidable, inevitable, inescapable.

Amy Winehouse was of those Marmite kind of artists: you either loved her or loathed her. She had recently cancelled a number of concerts in Serbia, Turkey and Greece so she could 'sort herself out'. Sadly, it appears that rehab was not enough. Her long battle against drink and drugs has brought her music to an end, and the world has lost another talent at a tragically young age. RIP.

Never 'erd of 'er - But if that's a display of talent, "I'm a Dutchman" as my old Granny used to say.

Hadn't the patience to watch the full video, YG. Not least because I deal with many of these sulky, sultry, scowly ...er, types... on a daily basis. I tend to gather that, whatever the problem, it'd all be my blue-eyed, dirty-blonde, fully-dressed fault. Even if I (metaphorically) stood on my head to try and help.

Sadly, their version of anti-culture seems to be quite prevalent among the young of all ethnicities.

Drug abuse, alcohol abuse,are a growing problem for those who seek to numb the pain of a pointless existence or emotional turmoil.Jesus came to set the captives free, which includes those trapped within addiction.

Jesus said;"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Strange isnt it how some of the so called most talented musicians have problems , the drugs may be useful when performing or writing , but when they interact with the ordinary aspects it is battle of boredom and stardust , and it all comes crashing down around you .

I never knew until recently that one of my favourite pop songs "baker street" by Gerry Rafterty , was actually a song about being spit out and spiralling due to being dumped by his record company. Perhaps Amys lyrics or at least style will in time tell us things she did not know about her life .RIP none the less a talented singer .

Non-mouse: "Never 'erd of 'er"; "Hadn't the patience to watch the full video"... but you take the time to mock and disparage.

You need to get your priorities sorted, mate. Or are you just jealous that other people are talented - can write good songs, have spirit, and even if they have personal demons, are willing to put up a fight even if it invites the mockery of others? Maybe you think it's enough to be "blue-eyed, dirty-blonde, fully-dressed " to demand respect from others?

She was a talented individual. She made a public contribution to our pop culture. She was a human being. She'll be missed.

My, the self-righteous are so quick to condemn on the weakness of their own preconceptions and misinterpretations!

Well, Bozos, pray be advised that I cannot and will not pretend to see talent where I see only debased humanity, diseased culture and, possibly, a cry for help. I also maintain that "The fault dear [Dodo] is not within our stars, but in" what said benighted culture now markets as art, poetry, or music.* I most certainly do not blame the victimized child herself.

Indeed, I speak in light of evidence from someone who recently sought to join the ranks of such "singers." That girl described to me what happened when she attended her first recording session. It ain't pretty: the above presents only the tip of the iceberg.

A white girl who clearly prides herself on being "pneumatic" yesterday informed me, in the parlance of rappers, that white women should be fat, happy, healthy, and learn to be shameless about displaying our "assets." She expressly lacks interest in why we might choose not to do so; [even if we can't cash in on rolls of blubber].

A young man I spoke to claims that such tastes (expressed in a specified rap "song") extoll the benefits of uncommitted relationships. Fortunately, he responds positively to Christian influence and recognizes the limitations of said "benefits."

I thank God that, unlike Dodo, tb, and other socialists, God knows all hearts. I trust, in His Wisdom, he will also accept my prayers for this particular girl, all her kind, and all the victims of the miasmic system that corrupts them.

*Apologies to Shakespeare, who actually had Cassius say of a different evil than that which besets us:

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow worldLike a Colossus; and we petty menWalk under his huge legs, and peep aboutTo find ourselves dishonourable graves.Men at some time are masters of their fates:The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,But in ourselves, that we are underlings. (Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar. I.ii: 135-41.)

Oh, and Gladiolys --- you will be as delighted as I that we are not mates; not in any way, shape, or form. Neither do I demand anything of you; nor do I mock the person in question, or the problems that render such people unable to develop their talents (I didn't say she had none, only that they're invisible).

I've never heard of her because I can't abide the filth she was involved in. I stay as far away from it as possible. Whatever you see to be jealous about is a mystery to me, so perhaps you are projecting a little there.

Still, I'll not return to this strand now, as I fear we might be embarking on another journey like that we suffered over the moon-walking type.

Before you come over all so self righteous read your original post. It is not filled with a Christian love or empathy for this young woman and the evils of the industry she worked for.

Too late now to call her a "victimized child" and to offer "prayers for this particular girl, all her kind, and all the victims of the miasmic system that corrupts them."

You described her as a "sulky, sultry, scowly ...er, types... on a daily basis. I tend to gather that, whatever the problem, it'd all be my blue-eyed, dirty-blonde, fully-dressed fault. Even if I (metaphorically) stood on my head to try and help."

Later you said, "I've never heard of her because I can't abide the filth she was involved in." If you take the time to research Amy's jazz/blues music you will also learn that her genre was somewhat different to your narrow minded opinions of the music young people listen to today.

No, in my opinion, you have displayed a nasty, judgemental attitude and I and others were right to challenge you.

PsI most certainly am not a 'socialist'! Is this how you label Christians different from yourself?

Our children manifest the ills of our society, reflecting back the culture they inherit and are contesting.

True artists are prophets commenting on contradictions. Many are in pain and disturbed; they see the world differently; some turn to drugs. They are unprotected by those charged with nurturing them for the sake of mammon.

How sad.Although I didn't personally rate Ms Winehouse's music as one of the 'all-time greats', she certainly had some talent. Plus, despite her drug problems, she often came across as down-to-earth and likeable, in the interviews and clips I've seen of her offstage. I particularly recall one of her appearances on the BBC show 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks', where she leapt to the defence of an elderly man whom the rest of the panel were making fun of. She told them to show some respect, then got up from her seat and gave the man a hug. (search it out on youtube). It was a touching moment, and it revealed her as a caring and vulnerable person. I'll remember her for that TV clip, rather than for her onstage performances.May she rest in peace and may the Lord have mercy, on her and on all of us.

Petronius: Yes, I recall that episode too. It is indeed a pity that she could not allow her better self to shine through.

I felt too, that once she debased her body with a mass of tattoos, she would never free herself; caught forever in her mirror, stamped for eternity, with the barcoded banality of foolishness, she had no where else to go. All very sad indeed.

Thank you, Your Grace, for your wise and kind words. I saw Amy, z"l, very briefly once, several years ago, at an unremarkable social function and without knowing, at the time, who she was. I recall her as a pleasant and a somewhat shy and even ordinary young woman, not at all like her public persona. May the Almighty take this daughter of Israel in His care, and may He bring relief and comfort to her loved ones. B'shalom.

"Those who find distaste in your words are also those who will not allow you to seperate your kind into a society of its own and teach a better way to live."

Separate away. Please! I'm sure there are some remote Scottish islands or something available where people can live, within reason, according to their own rules in an Amish sort of way. We could also supply a radio channel for the teaching, one which we can tune into ... or not ... as we wish. Actually, I might try to sell this idea to Endemol. ;)

"The wisdom of our ancestors has been dismissed as myth by your atheistic ilk."

Which myths? That Allah dictated a book to Mohammed? That Krishna was involved in the Mahābhārata? That Siddhārtha Gautama reached the enlightened state? That Zeus rules on Mount Olympus? That someone died and rose from the dead a few days later?

This is getting really strange...First, Michael Jackson, then her, our beloved Amy Winehouse..This doesn't smell good to me..And second of all, she was very young and didn't seem to have any health problems!

About His Grace:

Archbishop Cranmer takes as his inspiration the words of Sir Humphrey Appleby: ‘It’s interesting,’ he observes, ‘that nowadays politicians want to talk about moral issues, and bishops want to talk politics.’ It is the fusion of the two in public life, and the necessity for a wider understanding of their complex symbiosis, which leads His Grace to write on these very sensitive issues.

Cranmer's Law:

"It hath been found by experience that no matter how decent, intelligent or thoughtful the reasoning of a conservative may be, as an argument with a liberal is advanced, the probability of being accused of ‘bigotry’, ‘hatred’ or ‘intolerance’ approaches 1 (100%).”

Follow His Grace on

The cost of His Grace's conviction:

His Grace's bottom line:

Freedom of speech must be tolerated, and everyone living in the United Kingdom must accept that they may be insulted about their own beliefs, or indeed be offended, and that is something which they must simply endure, not least because some suffer fates far worse. Comments on articles are therefore unmoderated, but do not necessarily reflect the views of Cranmer. Comments that are off-topic, gratuitously offensive, libelous, or otherwise irritating, may be summarily deleted. However, the fact that particular comments remain on any thread does not constitute their endorsement by Cranmer; it may simply be that he considers them to be intelligent and erudite contributions to religio-political discourse...or not.

The Anglican Communion has no peculiar thought, practice, creed or confession of its own. It has only the Catholic Faith of the ancient Catholic Church, as preserved in the Catholic Creeds and maintained in the Catholic and Apostolic constitution of Christ's Church from the beginning.Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945-1961

British Conservatism's greatest:

The epithet of 'great' can be applied only to those who were defining leaders who successfully articulated and embodied the Conservatism of their age. They combined in their personal styles, priorities and policies, as Edmund Burke would say, 'a disposition to preserve' with an 'ability to improve'.

I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil, and I believe that in the end good will triumph.Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS.(Prime Minister 1979-1990)

We have not overthrown the divine right of kings to fall down for the divine right of experts.Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC.(Prime Minister 1957-1963)

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.Sir Winston Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can).(Prime Minister 1940-1945, 1951-1955)

I am not struck so much by the diversity of testimony as by the many-sidedness of truth.Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC.(Prime Minister 1923-1924, 1924-1929, 1935-1937)

If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome; if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent; if you believe the military, nothing is safe.Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC.(Prime Minister 1885-1886, 1886-1892, 1895-1902)

I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad. I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few.Benjamin Disraeli KG, PC, FRS, Earl of Beaconsfield.(Prime Minister 1868, 1874-1880)

Public opinion is a compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling, right feeling, obstinacy, and newspaper paragraphs.Sir Robert Peel, Bt.(Prime Minister 1834-1835, 1841-1846)

I consider the right of election as a public trust, granted not for the benefit of the individual, but for the public good.Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool.(Prime Minister 1812-1827)

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.The Rt Hon. William Pitt, the Younger.(Prime Minister 1783-1801, 1804-1806)